grateful.

  My handiwork can be seen in a featured wedding on the Style Me Pretty wedding Blog!!!  How exciting is that?!?!

  It is so gratifying to make things that people actually love.  Beautiful things that make people happy, like they make me happy.  It still feels sort of surprising and wonderful to me each time I get a thank you note from a happy customer that is particularly praise-filled.  Each time I just feel so grateful to have been chosen from among so many other talented artists and crafters in the Etsy community, its pretty humbling really.

Lindsey's custom order - handmade wedding accessories.

  I made several custom pieces for Lindsey's wedding, (see photos above).  Turns out she is absolutely, positively delightful.  She is also a fabulous photographer, so its no surprise to me that she had an artistic vision for her wedding and oh boy, did she ever make it happen!  After I sent out the finished accessories, I couldn't wait to see the wedding photos.  Well, the photos are amazing, and the planning/details of the day were absolutely stunning as well.  Guess what?  Lindsey's lovely wedding was featured on the Style Me Pretty blog!  Its not hard to see why, I could go on and on about all the fabulous details.  From the reclaimed wood wall decorated with mirrors and frames at the reception, the dresser with the suitcases stacked on top for guests to stash love notes and cards for the bride & groom, the clever use burlap everywhere, Lindsey's gorgeous dress, the bridesmaids in their cute, belted dresses and cowboy boots, the darling ring bearers in their little vests and caps carrying a banner proclaiming 'here comes the bride'!  Then there was the flower girl in her ruffled linen dress, aaawwww, and that huge ornate gold frame with the wood backing and the engagement photos tacked to it, and the tree slice cake stand and the beautiful wedding cake...  See?  I could go on and on.  I LOVE this wedding!!!  It was also really cool to see the things I made "in action" on the big day, in the photos.  Thank you Lindsey, for being so darn sweet.  I couldn't be happier to help you feel beautiful and look so lovely on your wedding day.

Go here to see Lindsey's wedding photos on her website.  (P.S.  You definitely want to see her website, she is an amazing photographer.  Get ready to ooh and aaawww over precious photos of couples and kiddos.) 

Go here, just for kicks, if you want to know just how stinkin' sweet Lindsey is.  She posted an entry on her blog about the things I made for her!  She linked to my Etsy shop and said the nicest things about me.  She even included the cute little "reserved" sign I made for her when I listed the flowers.  Lindsey mentioned in one of our conversations that she had forgotten to take a photo of the packages before she unwrapped everything and she was bummed, well I had taken photos of all the pretty packaging.  So I sent them off to her and she included those pictures in her post as well!  What a delightfully thoughtful girl.

Go here if you want to visit Danielle Capito Photography's blog post for more photos of the wedding...

Definitely go here to view the Style Me Pretty blog post featuring Lindsey's wedding and my hair flowers!  (Don't miss the section right under the photos that says "Click here to see even more in the image gallery!")



  Get the Look:

  Today I offer you two new hair clips inspired by Lindsey's custom pieces.  They are similar but not exactly the same.  These are more in the cream, antique white and gold colorway, with just a hint of pale pink.  I have also included foliage on the single flower clip.  I really like that shade of green with the other colors.  These are also not really lacy, but they still have a light, feminine appearance thanks to the use of tulle, netting and organza.  The larger arrangement of three flowers has lots of natural color muslin incorporated.  I just love that shabby chic, cottage garden, farm girl sort of feel you get from natural muslin.
  The shop update has taken place!  Click on the links below to check out the pieces.  I also have one more similar hair piece (which is more lacy) that will be finished quite soon, perhaps in the next few days.

golden sunshine and daydreams - a handmade hair adornment

sweet Evelyn - a handmade hair adornment

shop update - rustic summer style

It finally feels like summer around here.  Today I offer you three new pieces of jewelry to refresh your summer wardrobe.  Go to the shop and get 'em while you can!

                                          

                                                        rustic red flower pendant necklace 

ancient ruin - handmade earrings

wading in the surf - handmade earrings

  Other news, the men have been painting and mowing at the location that will very soon become "Redemption".  They are beginning to move the first things over to the shop space today.  The mail man delivered a box of fliers and business cards from the printer today.  We got a stack of posters last week, so things are finally coming together!  Are you as excited as I am?  Meanwhile, all six artists have been busily creating new works that will be featured at Redemption...  I saw a few photos of the work in progress and they made me even more excited.  I will be taking plenty of photos to share over the next few days/weeks, as we continue to move things and get set up. 

inspiration - faded

The iris are in bloom in my garden, they are so beautiful its almost too much.  The blooms are so huge and showy, they threaten to break the stems at the first suggestion of strong wind.  I think we're going to have to stake them.  I have the standard lavender/purple variety and then I also have these amazing peach/apricot color iris that are so incredibly beautiful.  The other day when I went for a morning walk, I spied pale yellow iris blooming in front of a neighbor's house.  I thought that was a pretty unusual color.  They are very pretty.  Just the first of the peach iris has bloomed so far this year and the lavender ones are all blooming now.  My white clematis is also flowering.  Here are a few photographs from the garden this time last year. 

And the chives are flowering...

And I have lots of different hostas...  I have a pretty shady garden. 

These teensy tiny little pale blue flowers came up in the front under the roses.  I don't know if they are weeds or forget-me-nots, or what... but I think they are impossibly darling and I love them.

This is a potted fern that lives indoors in the winter, but she's much happier outdoors when the weather permits. 

There will be more garden photographs to come, but for now I've got to get down to business!  This morning I discovered another lovely treasury I must share with you.  My hair bloom is featured in this stunning collection of faded and muted handmade goods.  Thank you kangaroostitches for choosing to include me in this wonderful collection!  How perfect for a hot summer day, it just feels cool and summery.

Interested in the hair bloom?  Get more info here.  Look out for shop updates today!  I made a new necklace yesterday and I have finished some beautiful new wedding-appropriate hair accessories!  I also have some new earrings.

etsy treasuries - featured!

I just posted a new headband in the shop and it been featured in a treasury already!  Thank you BumbleBeeBead for including my work in your list of "favorite things"!

If you are interested in this lovely hair adornment, skip on over to the shop and find out more about it. 

We've been lucky enough to be featured in THREE treasuries in the last few days.  How nice is that?  This one has a peacock theme.  I love these colors, so lots of the things I make seem to fit this description.  Overwroughtdesigns has chosen my peacock necklace for this collection.  Thank you for including me!

If you want to find out more about this necklace, go here.

Finally, janehamill has created this treasury for an Etsy STAT Team challenge.  This week's theme is "guiding".  Her interpretation of the theme is "Let your dreams be your guide".  Isn't that wonderful?  She has included my "sweet dreams" bunting in this collection.

The bunting?  You want to wish "sweet dreams" for yourself or someone you adore?  Well, I just miiiight know where you can get it.

I have some (more) fabulous new things to post in the shop...  Stay tuned to find out when the next Etsy shop update will be.

banners and buntings and garlands - oh my!

Busy days are good, but they can be overwhelming.  I've made a pot of tea and I'm being calm - on purpose, you know (tea can do that for you, especially pouring it from a proper teapot).  Pour hot tea, drink, repeat.  I think I've been spending FAR too much time with my face glued to the computer these last few days.  (I'm drinking the tea in front of the computer... see?  I can't relax, it must be the tea.  Not really, I just have a really long to-do list.  :)  Anyway, I've been terribly productive, but I'm starting to feel like I'm in a photoshop trance.  Today I packaged an order for my Etsy shop and I took such great pleasure in wrapping it, writing the thank you note and making the card.  I usually include a free gift, most often its a handmade card.  It was so nice to just step away from the keyboard and the screen and make something with my hands!  I will be very happy in a week or two when things start to settle down again and I have time to make some pretty things. 

Speaking of pretty...  just look at this gorgeous, romantic treasury I found today, featuring my butterfly hair clip!  I love the curvy lines of the violin photograph with the ladies... I love the jewelry & accessories, what lovely choices!  The soft colors are so dreamy.
   


One more, this one is entitled:  Flowers All Around.  Aaahhh, I just can't wait for that time in my garden when there are indeed flowers all around.  Can you spot my headband?





I am currently enamored of buntings, garlands, banners, etc...  You can decorate your child's room (heck, why not your room too?), the fireplace mantel, a shelf or bookshelf, string across a window, or use it for a party or shower decoration or a child's photo shoot.  Planning something with a carnival theme or a circus theme?  Buntings are a natural design element.  Yesterday's shop update included 3 buntings.  This is just one of them, so if you want to see the others, you'll have to head on over to the shop.

Wedding Inspiration

Big thank you to the frosted petticoat for featuring my handmade fabric flower necklace on the CUTEST dang inspiration board.  I don't want to spoil the fun, so you'll have to head over to the the frosted petticoat to check out the super fun theme.  Be sure to browse the blog there, be forewarned if you're already married... you'll find so many great ideas, you just might want to tie the knot again!

If you love this necklace, you can find it in the shop.

Speaking of weddings, you might want to check out the shop if you are interested in this little number.  It is one of a kind and I posted it today!

In which I confess my inability to finish one task before starting another...

I have approximately half a billion projects started right now...  uhhhmmm, and I keep getting NEW ideas and starting more!  What is wrong with me?  Sometimes the thought of finishing things just fills me with dread.  Now that I've publicly confessed that personal fault, I am going to make a concerted effort to choose some long-unfinished projects and get them wrapped up!  Maybe I'll post my progress for accountability purposes.  Ooohh, that makes me feel squeamish.  :)  I think that means its a great idea.  First 'to be completed' project will be posted this week.  There, I've made a commitment.  This is going to be good for me!  I can already envision the finished sewing projects and organizing tasks...  Aaaahhh, the wonderful feeling of a task freshly completed. 


I have 8 (yes, eight) new pairs of earrings to post in the shop!  I just need to photograph them.  So, look out for a shop update (or a couple of them) over the next few days.


My new green hair clip has been featured in two very beautiful treasuries, "Mossy Green" and "Discovering Spring"!  Green is my favorite color and these are just so springy!  Here they are, (you can click on the treasury title to browse the treasury or a specific image to view the item details):

Hurry up, Spring!

First, I want to share a little teaser with you.  I have been painting.  I'm working on a series of collages that will be featured in the shop very soon!  I am very excited about this and I look forward to sharing more!  I will be offering prints and notecards (and perhaps originals too).  More details and PHOTOS coming soon!

Check out the shop for some new items!  This cute green and yellow hair clip is the perfect accessory for your Spring wardrobe.

Perhaps this green flower says "Spring" to you.  Find them both in the shop today.  There you can find all the details regarding the measurements of each piece, as well as notes detailing the thoughtful touches that went into the creation of each item. 

Yesterday Jeff and I visited a local greenhouse in search of potted bulb gardens.  They told us we would have to come back tomorrow to find bulbs in bloom, but we HAD to look around any way.  As soon as I walked inside and that warm, humid air surrounded me and there was green EVERYWHERE, I felt like I was in paradise.  Well, maybe it was the monkey.  Yep, that's right.  They have a monkey.  (I'll take the camera when I go back today).  Jeff loves monkeys, so we had to feed her, of course.  She is so funny and cute!  She put on a little performance, smiling and 'making eyes' at us.  Its fascinating to see her little face and her hands, she's so expressive.  At times she looks funny and then very thoughtful.  So, after feeding Mingo a bit of trail mix we marveled at all the fabulous plants.  One thing that caught my eye was a large planter featuring an array of succulents.  It was too pricey for us BUT I remembered that we have a beautiful container at home, hens & chicks in the garden, a succulent in a 3" ugly plastic grower's pot on the kitchen window sill and all the necessary rocks and soil stuff.  We decided to purchase one 4" succulent to be the focal point of our planter.  As soon as we got home, I went right to work.  Here is the finished planter!  If you look closely, you can see some tiny little 'babies' I put in the soil to root.  I think its going to take a long time for the little guys to get big, we'll see...

I can't wait to plant things in the garden but for now I'll feast my eyes on this little oasis of green and try to wait patiently for the soil outside to warm up.  How about you?  Are your green thumbs itching to get to work?